Agenda Packets - 2003/07/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council June 23, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 7 1 Mr. Reed indicated that he opposes the plan because he does not believe that this stems from a 2 comprehensive look at safety for pedestrians in the district. He then commented that this seems 3 to be a fairly narrow plan and he does not believe that the work was done to determine the best 4 routes for a sidewalk. He further commented that putting a sidewalk along there duplicates 5 access and putting a sidewalk in another location would increase access whereas this plan has 6 one corridor to be used by a limited number of students. 7 8 Mr. Reed indicated that he has two children in the district and his youngest, even as a fifth 9 grader, was not allowed to cross alone on her bike. He would meet her and cross with his truck 10 as she crossed on her bike because it is just too dangerous. 11 12 Mr. Reed indicated that his daughter needed to collect data for a science project so he sent her to 13 the four way stop at Silver Lake Road and County Road H to record the vehicles that did not 14 stop. He then indicated that she went there on Wednesday at 3:30 and 5:00, Friday at 3:30 and 15 5:00 and Saturday at 3:30 and 5:00 and recorded over 2,400 data points for what cars did at that 16 intersection and the percentage of those that did not completely stop was 11% and the highest 17 was 27% on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. He then commented that his daughter did not write down 18 those that did not stop at all. 19 20 Mr. Reed indicated that if the District is going to funnel children to that intersection to cross an 21 adult paid crossing guard is necessary because it is too dangerous. 22 23 Mr. Reed indicated that the other flaw is continuing west to serve those that live on the north side 24 of H2 if they are on the west side they have to cross Silver Lake Road to get to the sidewalk and 25 there is no controlled stop. He then commented that at Woodcrest there is a depression and 26 vehicles cannot see pedestrians. 27 28 Richard Sonterre of 5060 Red Oak Drive indicated he did not envy the Council of having to 29 make this decision. He then reminded Council that they needed to make decisions for the best 30 interest of this community not of a small group. He further commented that he has heard a lot of 31 information for and against this plan but most of those against are because they do not want it in 32 their back yard but he feels this is a good thing for the community and the safety of the City’s 33 children. He also commented that his children would benefit from the use of the sidewalk. 34 35 Mr. Sonterre reminded Council that 2/3 of the students that attend Sunnyside live in Mounds 36 View and most do not receive bussing. He then commented it is not as much of an issue in the 37 summer but in the winter kids teeter along the snow banks or walk down in the traffic lane and 38 that is very dangerous. 39 40 Mr. Sonterre indicated that children are forced to decide whether to cross with no crosswalk 41 marking and no patrol or walk within a couple of feet of cars traveling in excess of the posted 42 speed limit. 43 44